Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	$ 218,120
2012	668,107
2013	1,320,215
2014	950,643
2015	1,366,932
Thereafter	990,991
Total	5,515,008
Long-term debt obligations [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	24,363
2012	1,623
2013	779,636
2014	550,178
2015	1,057,000
Thereafter	700,000
Total	3,112,800
Cash interest payments [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	81,399
2012	288,338
2013	288,208
2014	186,935
2015	113,433
Thereafter	160,128
Total	1,118,441
Satellite and transmission [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	9,760
2012	55,680
2013	4,782
2014	13,250
2015	13,156
Thereafter	22,093
Total	118,721
Programming and content [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	47,561
2012	227,048
2013	178,953
2014	151,931
2015	145,531
Thereafter	3,750
Total	754,774
Marketing and distribution [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	28,570
2012	25,070
2013	17,725
2014	12,816
2015	11,644
Thereafter	11,809
Total	107,634
Satellite incentive payments [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	2,826
2012	11,608
2013	12,693
2014	12,901
2015	12,049
Thereafter	87,601
Total	139,678
Operating lease obligations [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	8,522
2012	32,819
2013	28,335
2014	21,973
2015	13,851
Thereafter	5,428
Total	110,928
Others [Member]
Expected contractual cash commitments
2011	15,119
2012	25,921
2013	9,883
2014	659
2015	268
Thereafter	182
Total	$ 52,032

The carrying amount of the long-term purchase obligation as of the balance sheet date, which equals the sum of all payments due.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 440

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25383-109308

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 47

-Paragraph 6

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 47

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 440

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394976&loc=d3e25287-109308

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 47

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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